UNRWA School Shelling
Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
August 3, 2014
The United States is appalled by today’s disgraceful shelling outside an UNRWA school in Rafah sheltering some 3,000
displaced persons, in which at least ten more Palestinian civilians were tragically killed.
The coordinates of the school, like all UN facilities in Gaza, have been repeatedly communicated to the Israeli Defense
Forces. We once again stress that Israel must do more to meet its own standards and avoid civilian casualties.
UN facilities, especially those sheltering civilians, must be protected, and must not be used as bases from which to
launch attacks. The suspicion that militants are operating nearby does not justify strikes that put at risk the lives of
so many innocent civilians. We call for a full and prompt investigation of this incident as well as the recent shelling
of other UNRWA schools.
We continue to underscore that all parties must take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian casualties and protect
the civilian population and comply with international humanitarian law.
ENDS